NCSHP Low Band

[CCHLLM]

The radio links have been around since the beginning of the remote receiver and transmitter sites because landline would have been cost prohibitive due to long distance connections through multiple systems. The first ones were all 70 mHz, but the UHF links came about in the late 50s. The original Mt Mitchell transmitter (330 watt GE) was actually on the observation tower on Mitchell, was linked to the Asheville comm center by UHF from Mt Meadows on the west side of Asheville, and there was a landline link to Mt Meadows from the comm center. The whole thing is microwave now and the transmitter site is Clingman's Peak on the south pinnacle of the Black Mtn ridge.

Last time I was at Mt Mitchell, the remains of the home-brewed low band antenna were still in place. It was a machined base with 5 mobile whips w/springs forming the vertical and ground plane elements. Quite an ingenious way to defeat the wind and ice problems that spot is known for.

We at Greensboro had only two transmitter sites and the Sauratown receiver site. The local 250 watt/3KW combo was local control, and we were linked to the Buck Mtn transmitter site at Uwharrie by UHF. The Sauratown receiver was a 75.620 mHz downlink. When the Cane Mtn site in Alamance was added, that link was also UHF. Then the Hillsborough site and the Oxford sites were added. Raleigh now operates the Oxford site, but Greensboro has three more sites, Terrell's Mtn (Chatham) site at the WUNC TV tower south of Carrboro, the Shepherd Mtn site in Randolph, and the Summerfield site, which is 70 mHz linked both ways. There's also a receiver at Duncan in Lee County. All are now microwave except the Summerfield site.

There's lots more, and eventually I'm sure I'll have told all I know, but it's gonna have to be in pieces.

 

[jeffmulter]

As you can tell from my "guessing," I've been about as on-target lately as I've been in choosing the winning Powerball numbers.

Thank you, WX, for your recent - and future - contributions to the N.C. Forums !


Jeff

 

[CFP387]

One more question regarding SHP and I'll let it go. Anyone here have the 10-codes NC SHP uses? I know a few but not them all.

 

[JerGoTV3]

Because the list is so long...
http://www.alpharubicon.com/elect/nc10codes41705.htm

Looks to be pretty good and matches what they mean when I've been listening.

This is another website with a few counties and their 10-codes.
http://www.bearcat1.com/radionc.htm

 

[radiotrack1]

Antenna Lengths

To get the length that your 1/4 wave antenna needs to be divide 234 by the frequency in MHZ and you will get the length that one side of your antenna needs to be. Your ground plane should be approximately the same length. (example for frequency 42.940Mhz your antenna should be 5.4494643 feet long) if your cannot convert .4494643 to feet it will be approximately 6 inches so for the best reception of 42.940 Mhz your antenna should be 11 feet long. That is 5feet 6 for the vertical protion of your antenna and 5feet 6 for the ground plane. Hope this helps also you can go to this link and it will do the same thing for you http://www.crompton.com/wa3dsp/hamradio/antcalc.html

 

[dorseylgnc]

Stanly Co

I live in Albemarle and just got a scanner that can receive low band. I live near the SHP station and should be able to pickup some SHP traffic. My brother-in-law works for SHP communications in Troop D and gave me the freq list for my area. I can't pick any traffic up, occasionally I get static laden traffic but I can't make out anything that's being said, if it's being said at all. I have a RS Pro-83 scanner with the standard antenna. They make a different antenna, wondering if that will help?

Thanks for any input you can give....

LD

 

[CCHLLM]

You need an antenna, preferably outside. What comes standard on a scanner can't be called an antenna for low band. Check the database here for all the SHP freqs and where they're used.

The location of the local SHP offices has virtually nothing to do with the radio system. You should be able to hear E (Salisbury) and H (Monroe) comm center transmitters very easily in Stanly, if you have a decent antenna, that is. There are four fairly near you. One is on Buck Mtn at Uwharrie, another is at Stonewall, one at Lexington, and another at Faith Mtn. There are others around your area, too, but those oughta be knocking your ears off.

Your brother-in-law a tech or a telecommunicator?

 

[dorseylgnc]

...

Thanks for the reply. I was wondering if I would have to go with an external antenna. I don't think I am that serious yet. I also realize that the station location doesn't have anything to do with the repeater transmissions, I just thought I could hear some car-car traffic. I am familar with the Buck Mtn site as the agency I work for also runs communications off of that tower as well.

My brother-in-law is a telecommunicator.

LD

 

[CCHLLM]

I was a tech at D Radio until last year, now I'm an engineer for a private sector company, and still volunteering in the emergency services sector. If you listen to the USFS freq at Uwharrie NF, you'll hear my name called quite frequently on the radio during active weekends in the Badin Lake Rec Area, too.

I can remember when the storm (tornado/straight-line winds) took down the original SHP tower on Buck Mtn several years ago. The one that replaced it is not nearly as impressive.